Tilting apparatus



April 16, 1946. D. H. MITCHELL TILTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 16, 1943 2 Sheets-She at 1 N at /Nl/ENTOR D. H. MI 776 HE L L W E B ATTORNEY D. H. MITCHELL TILTING APPARATUS April 16, 1946.

Filed Nov. 16, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN l EA/TOR 0.11. MITCHELL Patented Apr. 16, 1946 Donald H. Mitchell, Cranford, N. J., assignor a Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 16, 1943, Serial No. 510,498

8 Claims.

This invention relates to tilting apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus: for tilting heavy articles from one position to another.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, efficient and practical apparatus for tiltin ment and article in one direction and lock them in a given position relative to the body.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of one species of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of another species of the invention, and

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, attention is first directed to Figs. 1 and 2, which illustrate a body, indicated generally at Ill, which is rectan gular in general contour. Specifically, the body It includes spaced side members I I, with vertical members'IZ secured thereto at the corners of the body. End plates I4 and I5 are fixed to the vertical members I2 and, through the aid of angle brackets IS, the body member If! may be secured to any suitable support (notshown). The corner members I2 adjacent the end plate l-4 have the ends of a cross bar I8 fixed thereto, the latter serving as a rest for the free end of an article supporting element I9. A pivot rod 20 is supported by the upper ends of the corner members I2 adjacent the end plate I5, the rod 20 pivotally supporting the element I9 through the aid of bearing members 2 I.

The element I9 has spaced article supporting blocks or members 23 mounted upon the upper surface thereof, as shown, these members being of the contour illustrated in Fig. 2, recessed as at 24 to receive a cylindrical article25. Flexible bands 23 each have one end fixed to their respective members 23 at tapered sides 21 thereof, loop-s 28 being formed in the opposite ends of the bands to receive. andbe connected to tightening bolts 29. Brackets 39, of the contour shown in Fig. 2, are secured to each of the members 23,

the bolts 29 and having transversely extending portions 32 against which washers 33 and wins nuts 34 may press during the tighteningof the holding means including the flexible bands 26, the bolts 29, and the wing nuts and washers. In the present embodiment there exists an aperture in the article at aposition where it is adapted to receive a locating pin 36 carried by the central or right hand member 23. Through the aid of the pin 36, the article 25 may be accurately located on the members 23 of the element I9. Other members 39 of the contour shown in Fig. 2, rigidly mounted upon-the element I9 at the pivot end thereof, serve in locating the article 25 in place upon th members 23 and to further assist in supporting the element when moved into a vertical position.

Latching elements 40,01? the contours shown in Fig. 1, are secured to their respective portions of body members II and cooperate with a U- shaped latch 4|, having the ends of its legs pivotally supported by the ends of a shaft 52 extending through and carried by the element I9.

Referring now to the latching elements 40, it

' will be noted that they are provided with cam surfaces '43 upon which the central portion of the latch ll will ride during movement; of the element I9 with the article into the vertical position shown in .dot and dash lines in Fig. 1. After riding over the cam surfaces 43 the latch 4| will drop into retaining notches -44 through the as sistance of other cam surfaces 45. The weight of the article, when in the vertical position, will cause the latch 4| to be retained in the notch 44, a shoulder 46 eliminating accidental return movement of the articleand element to its horizontal position.

Considering now the function of this embodiment of the invention, let it be assumed that the retaining bolts 29 and their bands 26 are moved to positions where they will not interfere with the placing of the article 25 on the members 23, that is, in the recessed portions 24 thereof. Through the assistance ,of the pin 36 and membars 38, the article is located in the members 23.

The article is then secured in place, where the the brackets being notched to removably receive 55 positioning of the bands 26 over the article and the tightening of the wing nuts of the bolts 29 in engagement with their respective portions 32 of theirbrackets takes place. It will be noted that the latch 4|, that is, the central portion thereofynormally rests upon, the upperfibody members II and rides upon these members during movement of the element I9 with the article about its pivot rod 20, from the solid line position (Fig. 1) to the dot and dash line position shown therein. During this movement the latch will be guided through the cam surfaces 43 and 45 into the notches 44 of the elements 40, automatically locating the article in a vertical position and holding the article thus for a desired length of time.

If desired, the article may be removed from the element IS in the vertical position. This may be accomplished byloosenin thawing nuts 34 suihciently on their bolts 29 so that the bolts may be removed from the brackets 30, freeing the holding bands 26 from the article and allowing the article to thus be removed through the-aid of a truck or other'suitable conveying means. To return the element I9 to its horizontal position, the latch 4| may be manually moved free of the notch 54 of the elements 4| The structure shown in Figs. 3 and .l is substantially identical with the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the exception that the body, which in these figures is indicated generally at 50, is provided with an extension nd supporting units 52, including rollers, wheels or the like 53, fixed thereto. Here the body 50 includes elements 54 identical in every detail to the elements 40, with cam surfaces 55 and 55 and retaining notches 51 for receiving a latch 58 identical with the latch il. An article supporting element indicated at 59 is idenitcal in every detail with the element I9 together with its supporting members 60 and locating members 6 I. Here the element 59 is pivotally supported by a shaft 62 for its movement from the horizontal position to thevertical position.

In this embodiment the article may be transported from one position to another in either the vertical or horizontal positions and the article may further be moved in the same manner as described regarding the structures shown in Figs. 1 and 2, from the horizontal position to the vertical position, and when in the latter position the article may be released and allowed to come to rest upon an upper surface 64 of the extension 5|.

Although specific improvements of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that they are but illustrative and that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of this invenion as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A tilting apparatus comprising a body, an element for supporting an article pivotally carried by the body, a latch carried by the element and movable therewith in a given direction during movement of the element from its normal position, and means disposed in the path of the latch while the latch is moving in the said given direction to cause the latch to stop movement of the element in the given direction and hold the element against movement from. the stopped position in either direction.

2. A tilting apparatus comprising a body, an element for supporting an article pivotally carried by the body, a latchpivotally carried by the element and having a portion adapted to ride on the body during movement of the element in a given direction from its normal horizontal position, and means disposed in the path of the said latch portion to cause the latch to stop movement of the element in the iven direction and at a predetermined position.

3. A tilting apparatus comprising a body, an

element for supporting an article pivotally carried by the body, a latch pivotally carried by the element and having a portion adapted to ride on the body during movement of the element in a given direction from its normal horizontal position, and a member carried by the body disposed in the path of the said latch portion and formed to cause the latch to stop movement of the element in the given direction beyond a predetermined position and hold the element against movement from the said position in either direction.

4. A tilting apparatus comprising a body, an element for supporting anarticle pivotally carried by the body, a latch pivotally carried by the element and havin a lateral projection to ride on the body during movement of the element from its normal horizontal position, and a control member carried by the body and having notch therein, to receive the lateral projection to stop movement of the element from its horizontal position and a portion disposed in the path of the latch projection to direct it into the notch.

5. A tilting apparatus comprising a body, an element for supporting an article pivotally carried by the body, a latch pivotally carried by the element and having a lateral projection to ride on the body during movement of the element from its normal horizontal position, and a control member carried by the body and having a notch therein, to receive the lateral projection to stop movement of the element from its horizontal position, and a cam surface disposed in the path of the latch projection to direct it into the notch.

6. A tilting apparatus comprising a body, an element for supporting an article pivotally carried by the body, a U-shaped latch having its legs pivotally carried by the element and its central portion positioned to ride on the body during movement of the element from its normal horizontal position, and a control member, carried by the body, with a notch for receiving the central latch portion to cause the latch to stop the element in a given position and with a cam surface to direct the central latch portion into the notch.

'7. A tilting apparatus comprising a body, an element for supporting an article pivotally carried by the body, a latch pivotally carried by the element and having a portion adapted to ride on the body during movement of the element from its normal position, and a control member, carried by the body, with a notch, having parallel vertical walls for receiving the latch portion to cause the latch to stop the element and hold it against displacement in a given position and with a cam surface to direct the latch portion into the notch.

8. A tilting apparatus comprising a body, an element for supporting an article pivotally carried by the body, means carried by the body to support the element in a lateral position, a latch pivotally carried by the element and having a portion positioned, to ride on the body during movement of the element from its lateral posi tion to a vertical position, and a control member carried by the body and having a notch therein, a cam surface to cause the latch portion to ride up to the notch and a cam portion positioned to force the latch portion into the notch.

DONALD H. MITCHELL. 

